Award-winning California open-air artist Paul Buxman will exhibit a collection of his paintings at the launch of the book, The Gift of Laughter: The Story of a California Mennonite Family, by Bellingham author Loretta Willems. Buxman paints the vineyards and orchards that looked like paradise to the Mennonites that were farming the North American prairies in the early 20th century. The Gift of Laughter tells the story of one of these Mennonite families that succumbed to the lure of rich soil and year-round sunshine.

Cost: FREE but please RSVP (non-members are asked to join if attending more than 2 meetings per year).
Food: Order drinks and food from the menu.

Seating is limited and if we underestimate the number of attendees it makes things difficult for the kitchen, wait staff and restaurant, which is graciously giving us our meeting space for free, so please RSVP.

Topic: Butt Back in the Chair: Three Keys to Jump Start Your Writing After Summer Vacation

Speaker: Cami Ostman, M.S., LMFT

Summer brings us the sunshine–and with it, plenty of distractions from our writing efforts. Join author and writing coach, Cami Ostman, to hone in on the THREE KEYS to getting your butt back in the chair and ramping up your productivity after summer vacation. You’ll come away inspired and excited to get back to your writing, no matter how long you’ve been away.

Cost: FREE but please RSVP (non-members are asked to join if attending more than 2 meetings per year).
Food: Order drinks and food from the menu.

Seating is limited and if we underestimate the number of attendees it makes things difficult for the kitchen, wait staff and restaurant, which is graciously giving us our meeting space for free, so please RSVP.

Topic: Village Books

Speaker: Paul Hanson

What’s up at Village Books now that it’s under new management? How authors can work with Village Books.

About Paul

Paul Hanson is one of the three co-owners of Village Books in Bellingham. Being in the book business since 1989, Paul is our General Manager & one of our resident ebook gurus. He enjoys reading & writing speculative fiction while listening to jazz & eating mangos. He likes fixing, building, and solving, making bottomless bowls of mashed potatoes and all things cheesy…including his jokes.

Cost: FREE but please RSVP (non-members are asked to join if attending more than 2 meetings per year).
Food: Order drinks and food from the menu.

Seating is limited and if we underestimate the number of attendees it makes things difficult for the kitchen, wait staff and restaurant, which is graciously giving us our meeting space for free, so please RSVP.

Topic: How To Give A Reading

Speaker: Laura Kalpakian

Two proven strategies that will help you create a whole experience for your listeners.

About Laura

Laura Kalpakian is the prize-winning author of sixteen novels published in the US and Britain. Her stories have been published world wide as well. How to Give a Reading is part of a three-term writing course she taught for fifteen years. She is a co-founder of the Red Wheelbarrow Writers, and works as a Developmental Editor to help writers see their books to fruition.

Cost: FREE but please RSVP (non-members are asked to join if attending more than 2 meetings per year).
Food: Order drinks and food from the menu.

Seating is limited and if we underestimate the number of attendees it makes things difficult for the kitchen, wait staff and restaurant, which is graciously giving us our meeting space for free, so please RSVP.